Watch the Trailer for Pixar’s Upcoming Jazz-Informed Feature Film ‘Soul’

Jazz, New York City and Pixar’s signature touch of emotive storytelling come together for their latest animated feature film Soul. The trailer shows a jazz teacher-turned-musician (voiced by Jamie Foxx) on the verge of his big break until he stumbles down a manhole and finds his way to another realm called The Great Before. There, he finds souls who are imbued with interests, quirks and personalities before they inhabit human bodies on Earth.

Releasing on December 25th exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar Premium, Soul is directed by Pete Docter, who has previously helmed stirring Pixar hits such as Up, Inside Out and Monsters, Inc. Where Inside Out concerned itself with feelings and a coming-of-age story, Soul seems to center in on ideas of goodness, life and death. Most notably, the film uses jazz as one of its key elements. 

Kemp Powers, co-director of the movie said in a press statement, “Jazz is a uniquely American art form, and New York City has one of the strongest histories of jazz—some of the most famous musicians are known for their performances in New York City,” 

“But it’s not just about the music,” adds Powers; “It’s about the dynamism of that world. Soul is a story about the meaning of life and the connections we make with each other. In New York, people are literally bumping up against one another. Diversity is visually evident on every single street. There’s really no place quite like it.”

Foxx’s character Joe Gardner finds a new friend in The Great Before with a soul named 22, who is voiced by the affable Tina Fey. Other star voices include drummer Questlove, veteran actor Angela Bassett, British late night host Graham Norton and U.K. comedian Richard Ayoade. 

Watch the trailer below. ‘Soul’ releases on Disney+ Hotstar Premium in India on December 25th.